When Miners March
Page 27
Bill was a highly intelligent analyst of the world into which he was born but, lacking all but a minimum formal education, he was no intellectual. He was an avid reader of newspapers and labor journals, and his library held favorites such as Jack London rather than tomes of the professional academes. He would prefer hunting and fishing to reading of the latest government scandal. He scorned those fond of theory and spent little or no time with such works.
Colorful Sid Hatfield is far better known to our school children by way of textbooks and even a Hollywood movie. Make no mistake, Sid was the miner’s friend and died for it – but Sid poses no contemporary threat. The economic and political powers of today are not anxious to have Bill’s story told. What is it about the image of Bill Blizzard that worries them? Maybe it is his strength of character, his ability to organize even in the lion’s den, or his simple message: “We are miners, we are Union, we are our own protectors.”
Harvard Law educated H. John Rogers has deemed Bill Blizzard, “arguably the seminal West Virginian of the first half of the 20th century” and yet even the West Virginia Labor History Association waited until 2006 to induct him into the Labor History Hall of Honor. Bill Blizzard was both sui generis and the archetypical West Virginian: honest, tough, and independent. He was a thinking man’s worker and a working man’s thinker.
Bill Blizzard physically departed this world from a Charleston hospital in 1958. But perhaps Bill, like Joe Hill, did not die but went on to organize…. Perhaps Bill was so important because he was – IS, one of us.
Appendix 3: Relevant Literature Review
Many sources exist for those wanting to learn more of the Great West Virginia Mine War – 1890 to the present. No attempt is made here to create a complete bibliography. A limited sample is offered below, selected based on their importance to understanding not just events but the creation of the history/myths of those events. Readers are encouraged to form their own opinions.
The Good Stuff
Biggers, Jeff. The United States of Appalachia (Emeryville, CA, Shoemaker & Hoard, 2006.)
Biggers offers a solid, readable account of the import of Appalachia to our nation’s development. Within that context, he grasps the significance of the miner’s rebellions and Blair Mountain, but sadly fails to note Bill Blizzard as the grassroots leader so critical to the Union’s ultimate success. The entire work serves well to shake stereotypes; it is an excellent place for students to begin…
Corbin, David Alan. Life, Work, and Rebellion in the Coal Fields (Urbana and Chicago, U. of Illinois Press, 1981.)
Long the “go to” book on the early mine struggles, this is a must. Well documented factual account that dispels myths of idyllic company towns. Corbin makes clear his lack of information regarding the leadership on Blair Mountain (p.218) and offers only minimal coverage of the trials.
Corbin, David Alan. The West Virginia Mine Wars, An Anthology (Martinsburg, WV, Appalachian Editions, 1990.)
Although a strong collection, it unfortunately misses the import of Bill Blizzard. Mooney and Keeney “guided the state’s miners through the Mine Wars.” (p.64) His final selection of the August 1, 1933, UMW Journal article on the Historic Convention is also misleading. John L. Lewis, no friend of Bill Blizzard, credits Van Bittner no fewer than six times while ignoring Blizzard. WCB repeatedly made clear in interviews that 2500 miners would not have attended without the organizing clout of Bill Blizzard.
Giardina, Denise. Storming Heaven, A Novel (New York, Ballantine Publishing, 1987.)
Provides a better understanding of events that most “non-fiction” accounts. Not to be missed.
Keeney, C. Belmont “Chuck". ‘Son of the Struggle, ‘ Goldenseal Magazine, (Summer 2006.) Charleston.
Offers a glimpse into the wit and wisdom of WCB.
Jones, Clarence Edward “Red". Memories of a Coal Miner, Unpublished manuscript. (Appalachian Community Service archives.)
Wonderful recollections important for providing a “smoking gun” that Bittner sold out the miners by ignoring their hard won contracts (p.33).
Mooney, Fred. Struggle in the Coal Fields, Edited By J.W. Hess (Morgantown, WVU Library, 1967.)
Written in the late ‘20s this work is a solid primary source. Mooney was an enemy of Bill Blizzard (once planned to kill him on a hunting trip – Bill was warned by Keeney). He dispels the oft repeated myth that he and Keeney managed events on Blair Mountain. “We kept in touch with developments through the press reports and by messenger until September 16” (p.99.)
Readers are reminded that this was an age before emails and “wireless".
Payne, Charles. Oral History, Special Collections, (James E. Morrow Library, Marshall U, Huntington, 1978.)
Charley “Tuck” Payne was a lifelong friend and colleague to Bill Blizzard and he has been virtually ignored by the history books. At various times, both he and Bill saw fit to slug Raymond Lewis, John L.'s kid brother. Charley got the “one pounder” cannon when Bill died.
Payne, Dale. Pictorial History of Cabin Creek v. 1 & 2 (Fayetteville, 2008.); Payne, Dale, and Perry, Marlene. The History of Eskdale, (2007.)
Excellent windows into the region, these entries are available from Dale Payne, Rt.3, Box 75, Fayetteville, WV, 25840.
Standard Fare
Savage, Lon. Thunder in the Mountains (South Charleston, Jalamap Publications, 1984.)
Long the most readable account of the struggles, Savage makes much ado of Sid Hatfield while down playing the role of Bill Blizzard. He announces that Blizzard could not have led the March since he was acquitted at trial (p. 120). He ends his work quoting the Union marker on Sid Hatfield’s grave (p.144) but fails to note that the marker was likely placed between 1945 and 1955 when Bill Blizzard was President of District 17. Bill most certainly saw to the placement of Sid’s marker as well as identical ones for Woodrum, Estep, and Chambers – all of whom he knew.
Shogan, Robert The Battle of Blair Mountain (Boulder, CO, Westview Press, 2004.)
Shogan clearly tries to be sympathetic to the miners but simply failed to do his homework and thus offers nothing new. He failed to interview William C. Blizzard and insists on referring repeatedly to the Red Bandana Army. Readers must wait until page 184 of his 228 page text to find mention of Blair Mountain. He includes three photos of Sid Hatfield but none of Bill Blizzard.
Sullivan, Ken. ed. The Goldenseal Book of the West Virginia Mine Wars (Charleston, WV, Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, 1991.)
A collection of articles from the magazine. Most significant perhaps for the article on the deaths of Estep and Woodrum and their grave markers (p.25-32). The Hazel Dickens tune Coal Miner’s Grave is about Estep’s murder and neglected gravesite. (Ed. note: The site is currently maintained by students from around the country.)
Oops!
Brecher, Jeremy. Strike (San Francisco, CA, Straight Arrow Books, 1972.)
Although this labor history work is considered a classic, it fails to mention the Battle of Blair Mountain and Bill Blizzard. Blair Mountain was the largest armed insurrection since the Civil War.
Davidson, Shae Ronald The Boys’ll Listen to Me (Huntington, WV, Masters thesis, Marshall U, 1998.)
Space does not permit a full review of this work. Suffice it to say that Davidson’s claim that Bill Blizzard and Van Bittner’s “close friendship” (p.66) is completely wrong. Extensive interviews with William C. Blizzard revealed otherwise. WCB would never concede that his father would so much as join Bittner for a cup of coffee if it were not job related. Davidson lists Blizzard’s greatest victories as “his support of free and reduced hot lunch programs in the public school system and his backing of the UMWA’s hospital program” (p. 103). This thesis somehow missed that Blizzard avoided the hangman and organized West Virginia for the Union!
Lee, Howard B. Bloodletting in Appalachia (Morgantown, WV, WVU, 1969.)
The following is a 1969 review of this work by William C. Blizzard:
“In his foreword, Lee
asserts, ‘I have no bias or prejudice in favor of or against either group,’ meaning coal miners or coal operators. Unfortunately, his book does not bear out his assertion.
“Although Lee condemns the Baldwin-Felts detectives (and the Don Chafin organization) that ruled the coal fields with armed force and, implicitly, the coal operators who hired such killers, the total effect of Bloodletting in Appalachia is that of an anti-labor tirade. Lee’s loathing, hatred, and contempt for such Union leaders as William Blizzard and Mother Jones is unsubtle and obvious.
“Of Mother Jones: ‘(a) profane and vulgar labor agitator. She possessed no qualities of leadership.’
“Of Bill Blizzard (in his role at Widen): ‘He imported the goon squads, frequently visited their camp, and made numerous speeches to the mob.’
“Lee reveals that William Blizzard was a field leader of the Armed March of 1921 and the leader of attempts at Union organization at Widen in the fifties. To labor historians, this revelation is about as startling as the news that George Meany leads the AFL-CIO.
“Lee usually refers to gatherings of Union miners as a ‘mob'. In one case, where many miners were ‘foreigners and unable to speak the English language,’ they are referred to as a ‘mongrel mob.’
“The author repeats many personal conversations and alleged quotations throughout his book. There are few advantages to being 90 years old, but one is evident: Not many of your old associates are around to dispute the accuracy of your memory.
“A factual inaccuracy on page 115 of Bloodletting in Appalachia should be noted. Lee writes that ‘In 1933, when the miners were unionized nationally, E.C. Townsend was made general counsel for the union, and he persuaded Lewis to name Blizzard as president of the union’s District 17, with headquarters in Charleston.’
“In fact, a man named Ben Williams was appointed District 17 president on Nov. 19, 1932, and was succeeded in late 1933 by Van A. Bittner. Bittner held the post for more than 10 years.
“William Blizzard was not appointed District 17 president until Nov. 1, 1945, serving until 1955.
“Bloodletting in Appalachia poses as an objective, unbiased account, but is in reality an attack upon the UMW of A and, inferentially and specifically, organized labor in general.”
Picturing West Virginia, A Century of Collecting by the West Virginia State Archives (Charleston, WV, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, 2005.)
This picture book includes the well known photo of Bill Blizzard batting during the Charles Town trial. The caption reads, in part, “During the trial, Union members, coal company officials, and journalists played baseball.” Upon seeing the caption, WCB most forcefully commented, “My dad would never play ball with the operators! They were trying to hang him! They wanted to make me an orphan!” ‘Nuff said.
Sullivan, Ken. Ed. The West Virginia Encyclopedia (Charleston, WV, West Virginia Humanities Council, 2006.)
This work claims currently two printings but an honest account would admit to two editions. Following complaints, some changes were made in the entry for Bill Blizzard but they can hardly be called corrections. Suffice it to say that both editions claim that during the Battle of Blair Mountain, Mooney and Keeney “managed events behind the scenes". See the entry regarding Mooney’s book above for a primary source refutation of this fiction.
Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of the United States (New York, NY, HarperCollins Publishers, 1980)
Howard Zinn, icon of People’s History and Labor History, missed the big one. No mention of Blair Mountain, the largest armed insurrection since the Civil War. No mention of Bill Blizzard. Zinn’s work is rightfully a classic “must read” for students of American history. It is also a loud reminder that the people’s history can easily be forgotten if the people do not insist on remembering.
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